Liberals Reject Poilievre’s Pipeline Motion but Reaffirm Support for Future West Coast Project

The Liberal government on Tuesday voted down a motion introduced by Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre that sought to confirm federal backing for a proposed pipeline to Canada’s West Coast. Despite defeating the motion, ministers insisted the government remains committed to advancing the project outlined in the recent federal-Alberta memorandum of understanding (MOU).
Poilievre’s motion drew directly from select sections of the MOU, which sets the framework for a bitumen pipeline connecting Alberta to a future deep-water port in British Columbia to expand oil exports to Asian markets. The motion referenced federal openness to adjusting the northern B.C. oil tanker ban if necessary — a point opposed by the B.C. government and several First Nations.
Liberals accused Poilievre of attempting to create division by selectively using portions of the agreement. Energy Minister Tim Hodgson said the motion failed to reflect the full commitments of the MOU, which include Indigenous consultation, collaboration with British Columbia, and climate-related measures such as carbon capture investment. Conservatives later added some of these elements into an amendment, but it was also defeated.
Prime Minister Mark Carney challenged Poilievre’s approach, saying if Conservatives wanted to test the government’s support, they should put forward the entire MOU. “You cannot pick and choose from an agreement,” he said. Opposition parties — the NDP, Bloc Québécois and Greens — also voted against the motion, citing broader opposition to new pipelines.
Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty called the motion an “insult,” emphasizing that the MOU requires full consultation with affected First Nations and B.C. leaders. Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin said the Conservative proposal ignored climate goals and net-zero planning, both central to the MOU’s balanced development approach.
Government MPs insisted their “no” vote was aimed at rejecting political posturing, not the pipeline itself. They argued that the MOU already provides industry with clarity, outlining steps for engagement, environmental measures, and cooperation among governments and Indigenous communities.
Internal party tensions surfaced when former environment minister Steven Guilbeault publicly criticized the MOU, calling it a setback for climate efforts. However, government leaders stressed that differing views within caucus have not altered the official policy supporting the negotiated framework.